In a pulsating stretch-long duel, John Oxley’s Matador got the bob over Chiefswood Stables’ Cool Faith to capture the $251,200 Cup and Saucer Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
With Luis Contreras aboard Matador and Omar Moreno urging on Cool Faith, the only filly in the field of 11 Canadian-foaled two-year-olds, the Cup and Saucer turned into a virtual match race from the start of the mile and one-sixteenth contest, run over a ‘yielding’ turf course.
The pair hooked up after the gate opened, clocking early fractions of 24.89, 48.16 and 1:13.28, while being pressed by longshot Maritime Pulpit on the outside. But when the field turned for home, the two leaders were still in front, and about to wage war down the lane.
At one point Matador seemed to edge away, only to have Cool Faith grittily come back on the rail. They hit the wire together, but the photo showed Matador, the 5-2 second choice, the slimmest of winners by a nostril.
Asserting Bear closed strongly to finish third, just three-quarters of a length back, in a final time of 1:47.89. Favoured Lulu Le’Mon, an import from Tony Dutrow’s barn in Maryland, was a non-threatening seventh.
The Cup and Saucer, worth $150,000 to the winner, was a maiden breaker for Matador, a $150,000 Keeneland yearling purchase trained by Mark Casse. Bred by Windhaven Farms, the son of Malibu Moon-I’m Breathtaking had run twice previously, both also in stakes.
He’d finished fourth in his debut to Go Greeley in the six furlong Vandal on August 11 over Woodbine’s Polytrack, then was third to stablemate My Conquestadory, a highly-regarded Breeders’ Cup-bound filly, in the one mile, Grade 2 Summer Stakes, September 14 over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
Said Kathryn Sullivan, Casse’s assistant trainer, “We’ve had great hopes for this horse and he really came through today. I mean, he just did not give up at all. I wasn’t really sure (who had won). She (Cool Faith) just kept coming back on. But it was a great race.”
Matador, who has now banked $180,472 in his three starts, paid $7.50, $3.50 and $3.20, combining with Cool Faith ($5.30, $4.50) for a $35.70 (7-2) exactor. A 7-2-13 (Asserting Bear, $10.30) triactor returned $513.80 while a $1 Superfecta [7-2-13-14 (Majestic Sunset)] was worth $1,811.25.
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